Acta Radiologica

ISSN: 0001-6926 (Print) (Online) Journal homepage: https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/iaro20

I. The Anatomy of the Temporal Bone and its

Variations

To cite this article: (1933) I. The Anatomy of the Temporal Bone and its Variations, Acta
Radiologica, 14:sup17, 5-19, DOI: 10.3109/00016923309176829

To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.3109/00016923309176829

Published online: 13 Dec 2010.

Submit your article to this journal

Article views: 3359

View related articles

Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at

https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=iard20
I. The Anatomy of the Temporal Bone and its Variations.
Fig. I-X.

The temporal bone, 0 s temporale, forms part of the base and

the lateral wall of the skull and is situated between the occipital,
sphenoidal and parietal bones. It consists of four parts arranged round
the external auditory canal and tympanic cavity in such a manner
that the pars tympanica comes to be directed downwards, squama
temporalis upwards, pars mastoidea backwards and the pars
petrosa inwards. The three first parts make up a laterally situated
plate, from the middle and lower part of which pars petrosa pro-
jects in the shape of three-cornered pyramid directed forwards
and inwards.
The eye-ear plane or the Frankfurther horizontal is a plane
passing through the mid-points of the upper borders of the external
auditory canals and the lower border of the two orbits. The long
axis of the pyramid passes through this plane with minor deviations
cranially or caudally. In relation t o the median sagittal plane of
the skull the long axis is directed from without obliquely inwards
and forwards at an angle of 45O with minor deviations dorsally
or frontally.
The pars tympanica has the shape of a transverse groove scooped
out upwards, the under side of which continues into a sharp
edge. This groove forms the floor and the anterior and posterior
wall of the external auditory canal, ending inwardly by a groove-
shaped hollowness, sulcus tympanicus, which holds the tympanic
membrane.
The squama temporalis is a semicircular bony plate, its larger
lateral position forming part of the lateral wall of the skull and
its lesser medial portion forming part of the floor of the middle
fossa of the skull. The inner surface, facies cerebralis, is rough,
presenting the juga cerebralia and impressiones digitate. Its outer
surface, facies temporalis, is smooth. On its lower surface, in front
of the external auditory canal, the socket of the mandibular arti-
 6

culation, fossa mandibularis, is situated, limited in front by the

tuberculum articulare. Bridging the fossa mandibularis we find
a horizontal bony plate, the processus zygomaticus, curving for-
wards as a thin offshoot. The posterior root of the bony plate
arises from in front of the external auditory canal and continues
backwards above it into the linea temporalis. The anterior root
arises from the tuberculum articulare. Above the squama tempo-
Margo parielalis

Margo sphenoidalis _--- Sulcus arleriae leinporalis

_.______..--- mediae

.&--------Incisura parielall.
_----Linea temnornlis

Proc. zygonialicus - -
. a supra meatiim
Smn
-Tuberculum articulare
. Margo occipilalis
I- Foramen masloideum

Vagina procecsus st)loidei

lncisura mastoidea

Processus mastoideus
Porus und h l c ~ l u sxuslicus ext. ; I -
Firsura tympnnomnstoidea

Fig. I. Left tcniporal hone from without. *denotes the remainder, though not
always present, of the squamo-mastoid suture.

ralis comes to lie close to the pars tympanica forming the roof
of the external auditory canal and by a notch, incisura Rivini,
it gives attachment to the upper periphery of the drum. I n addi-
tion it forms the lateral wall and the roof of the upper part of
the tympanum, recessus epitympanicus or atticus; this bulges
laterally, so that its floor comes to form the inner part of the roof
of the external auditory canal. The squama temporalis is pervaded
with pneumatic cells in greatly varying numbers which may
extend up in the squama between the external and the inner tables,
above the linea temporalis and forwards in the zygomatic process.
 7

The mastoid portion is a thick bony plate situated behind and

below the squama temporalis and on the lateral side of the pars
petrosa, from both parts of which it has originated. In some cases
a suture, sutura squamo-mastoidea, can be seen remaining between
these parts. The mastoid portion is further placed behind 0s tym-
panicum, connected therewith by fissura tympano-mastoidea. With
the occipital bone its posterior border forms the sutura occipito-

Apex pyramidis Canalis caroticus Tuberculum articulare

Sulcus petrosus inf.

ndibulnris
Fossula petrosa
mit Apertura inf. canaliculi tympanici

Apcrtura externa cdnaliculi cochleae -----A

slyloideus
,/
Processus intrajugularis,-"
____-Foramen stylomasfoideum

Sulciis canaliculi mastoidei -----------Fissura tynipano-mastoidea

und Oeffnung des Csnaliculus niastoideus
II /.
-----
---___ Plocessus mastoideus
,/ /
; / lncisura niastoides
Fossa jugularis ' I'
./
'Siilcus arteriae occipitalis

Fig. 11. Left temporal bone from below.

mastoidea and with the posterior border of the squama temporalis

incisura parietalis. Its lateral surface, planum mastoideum, has
a vaulted shape and is slightly rough. It forms a process below,
processus mastoideus, on whose medial surface a pit is formed,
incisura mastoidea or fossa digastrica, and on the medial aspect
of this can be seen the sulcus arteria occipitalis. In front the medial
surface passes directly over into the base of the pars petrosa,
behind which it is free and forms a deep groove, sulcus sigmoideus,
running downwards and forwards. From the sulcus sigmoideus a
venous channel, emissarium mastoideum, passes backwards to the
lateral surface. The mastoid portion is further pervaded with
pneumatic cells which later will be dealt with in greater detail.
 8

The pars petrosa, the pyramid, is a three-cornered pyramid with

the base directed laterally and its long axis directed forwards
and inwards forming an angle of about 45' with the median plane
of the skull. It is provided with an anterior, posterior and a lower
surface connected by an upper, a posterior and an anterior border
or angle. The apex of the petrous portion, apex pyramidalis, is
received in the angular interval between 0 s occipitale and 0s
sphenoidale, leaving an irregular space free, the foramen lacerum.
The anterior surface, facies anterior, which is separated from the
squama temporalis by the fissura petro-squamosa, only apparent
in younger individuals, is slanting slightly forwards and forms
part of the floor of the middle fossa of the skull. At about its
middle there is an elevation, eminentia arcuata, occasioned by the
anterior semicircular canal. Between this and the fissura petro-
squamosa, there is a thin bony lamina, tegmen tympani et antri,
forming the roof of the cavum tympani and antrum mastoideum
as well as the floor of the middle fossa of the skull, the depth of
which here shows from practical point of view important variations.
In the neighbourhood of the apex there is a depression, impressio
trigemini, for the ganglion gasseri. The inferior surface presents
at its hindmost part a slender process, processus styloideus, directed
downwards, and immediately behind this the lower orifice of the
canalis facialis, the stylo-mastoid foramen, opens. In front and
on the inner side of this there is the fossa jugularis for the bulbus
vena jugularis which shows great variations in width and depth
and is bulging upwards towards the middle ear. In front of the
fossa jugularis is the foramen caroticum externum, the external
entrance to the carotid canal. The posterior surface is directed
obliquely inwards, backwards and upwards and forms part of
the posterior fossa of the skull and presents in its middle porus
acusticus internus. On the lateral aspect of this, in the neighbour-
hood of the upper border, we find the fossa subarcuata or hiatus
subarcuatus, and laterally and below the apertura externa, aque-
ductus vestibuli for the ductus endolymphaticus. Behind the pos-
terior surface borders on the sulcus sigmoideus. Since this extends
far forwards into the pyramid, the posterior surface can project
as a bony lamina enclosing the sinus forwards and inwards. The
upper border of the pyramid is occupied by a groove, sulcus
petrosus superior, opening behind into the sulcus sigmoideus.
Medially the pyramid abuts in front against the clivus, forming
 9

the synchondrosis petro-occipitalis. On the inner side of the

posterior border of the pyramid there is a groove, sulcus petrosus
inferior. Behind the synchondrosis petro-occipitalis the posterior
border of the pyramid forms a notch, incisura jugularis, which
together with the corresponding notch on the occipital bone forms
the foramen jugulare, the inner orifice of the fossa jugularis.
Through the rather inconstant processus intrajugularis the foramen
Eminentia 3rcuata

rorus et Mealur acuslicus in?

Apex pyramid?

SUICU!

PIOC. - - - _ _ _ _Sulcus rigmoideus

r'roc. Inlraiuwlarir..-
d . Or occipitale
.Emissariurn nissloideuni

urtus vestibuli

Canalis hgpaglo~s~

Cond)lus occipiDlis' I';ocessu5 jeplaris

Fig. 111. Posterior surface of temporal bone and adjacent

parts of 0s occipitale.

jugularis is divided more or less clearly into an anterior and a

posterior portion. The outwardly open angle in the base of the
pyramid formed by the anterior surface, on the one side, and
the posterior surface and the anterior wall of the sinus, on the
other, is called the sino-dural angle. A t the pyramidal apex we
find the exit of the canalis caroticus in the foramen caroticum
internum and on the lateral aspect of this canalis musculo-
tubarius.
Important formations are hidden within the pyramid: meatus
acusticus internus, the bony labyrinth, canalis facialis, canalis
caroticus, canalis musculo-tubarius and pneumatic cells. The
internal auditory canal measures about 1 cm. in depth and directed
laterally it coincides with the longitudinal direction of the external
auditory canal. Its floor, fundus meatus acusticus internus, is
 10

divided through a transverse ridge, crista transversa, into a lower

field, area cochlea, and an upper field, area facialis, in the anterior
part of which we find the beginning of the canalis facialis. The bony
labyrinth is situated in the interior of the pyramid and measures
about 2 cm. in the longitudinal direction of the pyramid. From
its middle portion, the vestibulum, situated close to the fundus
meatus acusticus internus, the three semicircular canals extend

Anlruni tii.~stoideuni

Promincntin canaiis farialis, '.,

Processus cochlenrifoimis.. '\ '.
Hiatus canalis foriali
Sulcus 11. pelrosi superf. iiiajoris.\

Apex pyramidis

Canalis caroticus .-/

Semicanalis m. tensoris tympani
. 'c7-
Scplurn canalis musculotubar
..
I /Y
..
Semicanalis tiibae audilivae.' ; .) ,
Cellulae pncurnnticae tubartae .' ;I

Feiicjtra veslibuli ; j
Proinontoriuni ; Eiiiiiieritia pyramidalis

Siniis tynqiaili -.. Procesjus slyloideua

Fig. IV. Medial wall of the middle ear and adjacent parts of inferior,
upper, posterior and antcrior walls.

backwards and upwards and the cochlea forwards and down-

wards. The semicircular canals are shaped as implied by the name
and by their extremities open into the vestibule. One of the ex-
tremities, crus ampullare, presents in difference to the other one,
crus simplex, an ampullary enlargement close to the vestibule.
The upper or anterior vertical semicircular canal, canalis semicir-
cularis superior, commences with crus ampullare from the upper
lateral wall of the vestibule and stands in the vertical plane a t
right angles to the longitudinal direction of the pyramid. The
 11

posterior vertical semicircular canal, canalis semicircularis pos-

terior, commences by the crus ampullare from the lower wall of
the vestibule and in the vertical plane stands a t right angles t o
the former near the posterior surface of the pyramid. These semi-
circular canals open by a common extremity, crus commune, into
the posterior wall of the vestibule. The horizontal or lateral semi-
circular canal, canalis semicircularis lateralis, commences by crus

Antrum niasioiaerirn
Canalis semicircularis lat.
Cannlis semicircularis sup.
Hiatus canalis faclalis
SUICUS 11 peirosi superhctahs majotis ',
1 -
ziemicanalis m. lensoris lymoani..

Apex pyramidis ...

ie n i a midea<

Canalis caroliciis I

Proniontoritim r
Fenestra cochleae ! 1
' CHnalis facialis
Pnries iilgularis d . Mittelohres Eminelilia pyrnmidalis

Fig. V. Like the preceding fig. but with exposure of the canalis facialis.

ampullare from the lateral wall of the vestibule below the crus
ampullare of the canalis semicircularis superior. It is situated in
the horizontal plane and opens by the crus simplex into the pos-
terior wall of the vestibule. The two vertical and the horizontal
semicircular canals thus occupy three right-angled planes, the
posterior being parallel with the longitudinal direction of the pyra-
mid, i. e. forms an angle of 45O with the median plane of the skull.
On the upper surface of the pyramid the anterior semicircular
canal forms the eminentia arcuata and behind on the medial wall
of the tympanic cavity and aditus ad antrum the lateral semicir-
cular canal forms a projection, the prominence of the horisontal
canal. From the anterior lower part of the vestibule the cochlea
commences by its long basal turn, passing over forwards into sharper
 12

coils. The basal turn forms a projection on the medial wall of the
tympanic cavity, the promontorium. The vestibule forms the poste-
rior part of the medial tympanic wall and on its lateral wall two
openings are seen, an upper, fenestra vestibuli sive ovalis, and a
lower, fenestra cochlea sive rotundum. The canalis facialis, comment-
ing in front in the area facialis at the floor of the internal auditory
canal, passes close beneath the anterior pyramidal surface, laterally
over the cochlea and a t the geniculum facialis turns backwards at
an acute angle below the prominence of the horisontal canal and above
the fenestra ovalis, forming a prominence below the former on the
medial wall of the tympanum and aditus ad antrum. It then curves
downwards close to the posterior wall of the auditory canal towards
the foramen stylo-mastoideum. The canalis caroticus passes from
the carotid foramen upwards in front of the tympanic cavity and
makes a turn in front of the cochlea towards the pyramidal apex.
On the lateral aspect of the canalis caroticus we find the canalis
musculo-tubarius divided through a septum into an upper part,
semicanalis tensoris tympani, and a lower part, the semicanalis
tubae auditivae.
Since pars lateralis and pars basilaris of the occipital bone are
situated on the immediate inner side of the temporal bone and
thus appear in radiograms of this bone, thereby offering points
of orientation, a brief description of its anatomy would seem justi-
fied. These parts make up the boundaries of foramen occipitale
magnum. The upper surface of the pars basilaris together with
the corpus sphenoidale in front forms the clivus of the base of
the skull. On the lower surface of the pars lateralis, in front of
the middle of the foramen occipitale magnum, we find the condylus
occipitalis. Behind this we find the fossa condyloidea, from which
sometimes a venous channel, canalis condyloideus, passes to the
sulcus sigmoideus on the superior surface. Above the condyle is
the canalis hypoglossi and on the lateral aspect of this, on the lower
surface there is sometimes a process, processus paramastoideus,
on the medial aspect of the incisura mastoidea. On the lateral
border is seen the incisura jugularis forming together with the
corresponding notch on the pars petrosa the foramen jugulare.
On the upper surface we find the lower portion of the sulcus
sigmoideus passing by a sharp crest into the foramen jugulare.
Further points of orientation on the base of the skull are: the fora-
men lacerurn at the pyramidal apex and in front of the anterior
 13

border of the pyramid the foramina spinosum and ovale on the

great wing of the sphenoid.
From the external ear passes the external auditory canal which
on the whole is placed obliquely to the tympanic cavity, on
the medial aspect of which the internal auditory canal continues
in the same direction. The tympanum is a fissure-shaped space
in the long axis of the pyramid continuing forwards into the tube
Canalis semicirc. suu.

tensoris t j:mp.

:iva

V. jugul. int.

Bulb. yen. jngnl.

Fig. VI. The medial wall of the tympanic cavity in relation to the
labyrinth, the internal carotid artery, and the vena jugularis
with bulbus venae jugularis.

and being connected backwards through the aditus ad antrum

with the mastoid antrum and the cell system of the mastoid portion.
The external ear consists of the pinna and the external auditory
canal. In elderly persons the cartilage of the pinna may be partly
calcified. It leads in a funnel-shaped manner to the external
auditory canal which measures about 24 mm. in length and con-
sists of an external cartilagenous and an inner bony part, the latter
about 16 mm. long. The diameter of the bony part is about 8 mm.
but shows great individual variations. Its anterior, lower and poste-
rior walls are formed by the pars tympanica and the roof by the
squama temporalis; this separates it from the middle fossa of the
skull whose depth in relation to the roof in the external auditory
canal presents from practical point of view important variations.
 14

In the sqyama temporalis we find here to a varying extent air

cells between the roof of the external auditory canal and the floor
in the middle fossa of the skull and behind the meatus is closely
connected with cells in the pars mastoidea. The external auditory
canal is terminated inwardly by the tympanic membrane which
is contained in the incisura Rivini and the sulcus tympanicus and
which occupies a plane, the outer surface of which is directed

Glandulae ceruminilerae Cartilago meatus Membr. tympani mit dem Manubi-. mallei
acust. ext.

E ig. VII. Frontzil section through the estcrnal auditory canal and typanum.
3 = recessus epitympanicus or atticus.

obliquely forwards and downwards a t an angle of about 45'-50'.

I n the newly-born child where the pars tympanica is merely an
osseous bar, annulus tympanicus, there is no external bony auditory
canal and the drum is here nearly horizontal.
The lateral wall of the tympanum is mostly formed by the tym-
panic membrane which below reaches nearly to its floor. Above,
on the other hand, the tympanum extends 5-6 mm. above it
and projects here laterally over the medial part of the external
auditory canal forming a recess, recessus epitympanicus or atticus.
 1.5

The lateral wall here is formed by the squama temporalis and the
floor of the atticus forms the roof of the auditory canal. The inner
wall of the tympanum is formed by the pyramid with the labyrinthal
capsule; behind is the vestibule and in front of this the promonto-
rium corresponding to the basal coil of the cochlea. On the vesti-
bular wall is seen below the round window, and above, the oval
window, above which the facial prominence and the prominence
Titba Foram. winos. Meat. acust. est.

Chv. tympani

. Auditive ossicles
Cochlea

. Antriim
mastoideum

Canalis semi-
circularis SUP.

Canalis semi-
circularis post.

Por. et Meat,. ncust. int.

Fig. VIII. Left temporal bone from above. Horisontal section.

formed by the lateral semicircular canal form the inner wall of

the posterior upper part of the tympanum and aditus ad antrum.
Above the promontorium the semicanalis musculo-tensoris tympani
has its orifice laterally, ending in front of the oval window in the
processus cochleariformis. The inner and lateral walls converge
downwards wherefore the tympanum is b;oadest upwards, measur-
ing here about 5 mm. The floor, the hypotympanon, presents
dilatations of smaller size, cellulae tympanicae, and its relationship
to the bulbus vena jugularis varies all according t o the depth of
the fossa jugularis. The anterior wall is situated close to the verti-
cal part of the canalis caroticus. From the anterior part of the
tympanum extend the semicanalis tubae auditivae which is only
separated from the above situated semicanalis muse. tensoris
tympani by a thin septum. These form together the canalis musculo-
tubarius passing forwards towards the apex of the pyramid on the
 16

lateral aspect of the canalis caroticus. I n the posterior wall above

the aditus ad antrum opens, below which can be seen the eminentiae
pyramidalis communicating posteriorly with the canalis facialis.
The roof of the tympanic cavity, aditus ad antrum and antrum
mastoideum, is formed by the tegmen tympani et antri, separating
these from the middle fossa of the skull. Between the tympanic
membrane and the oval window we find the chain of ossicles, the
main mass of which, corpus incudis, and capitulum mallei, is
situated in the recessus epitympanicus.
It is of great importance to know topography of the pneumatic
cells. The main mass of the cell system is situated in the pars
mastoidea limited externally by its corticalis or the lamina externa.
Backwards it extends as far as or behind the sulcus sigmoideus
and into the sino-dural angle, upwards towards the middle fossa
of the skull, forwards to the canalis facialis and the posterior wall
of the auditory canal and downwards to the apex of the mastoid
process. The mastoid antrum is situated behind the tympanic
cavity communicating with this by the aditus ad antrum. It is
come across at a depth of about 1 cm. on the border between the
posterior and upper wall of the auditory canal. Above it is limited
by the tegmen against the middle fossa of the skull. Medially
it is situated close to the facialis and the lateral prominence and
behind it is more or less adjacent to the sulcus sigmoideus, all
according to its size and the forward situation of the latter. All
according to the situation of the cells different groups of them
may be recognised: periantral cells around the antrum, cells in
the sino-dural angle, marginal cells laterally and behind the
sulcus sigmoideus, retrofacial cells behind the canalis facialis, and,
finally terminal cells extending down into the apex. The terminal
cells may extend a long way in a medial direction and are then
divided by the digastric prominence (the inside of the incisura
digastrica) into an outer and an inner group. This latter group
of cells extends as jugo-digastric or peribulbar cells towards the
bulbus venae jugularis. Moreover there are cells between the roof
of the external auditory canal and the middle fossa of the skull
in the squama temporalis which may extend forwards into the
processus zygomaticus. From the floor of the tympanum extend
the cellulae tympanica and around the tube pertubal cells and in
the roof of the tympanic cavity further cells may be found. The
pyramid may also be aerificated. These cells arise either from the
 17

peritubal cells occupying the lower part of the pyramid, or they

extend from behind laterally over the labyrinth surrounding the
internal auditory canal, then occupying the upper part of the
pyramidal apex.
Under typical conditions the cell system is regularly built up
with larger cells generally a t the back and below. The cells at the
border are bounded by a denser zone against the bone resembling
corticalis. Yet great variations occur in the form and extent of
the cellular system. Wittmaack has shown that the development
of the cellular system is a function of the mucous membrane of the
middle ear and that it takes place in the course of three periods.
During the first period, lasting to the end of the first year of life,

Fig. I S . A. Left lnbyrintli from without H . Right labyrinth from within.

C. Left labyrinth from above.

the tympanic cavity, the epitympanic cavity and the mastoid

antrum are formed by these cavitations, filled up with embryonal
connective tissue, becoming lined with epithelium from the Eus-
tachian tube. During the second period, lasting till the 4th-5th
year of life, the cellular system is formed. I n a first stage nisch-
like dilatations are formed - excentric cellformation - through
subepithelial connective tissue from e. g. the antrum compressing
the bone. I n a second stage these nisches are lined with epithelium
in such a way as to form numerous dilatations from the original
antrum. From the borders of these nisches bony lamellae project
causing the original antrum to be reduced in size by being divided
into smaller cells - concentric cellformation. I n a third stage the
original high epithelial lining is transformed into a final low one.
By continued excentric and concentric cellformation of this nature
the cell system proceeds to develop and is a t the end of the second
period on the whole complete. During the third period - therest
of life - the cell system only undergoes a further slow development.
 18

Through injuries t o the mucous membrane pneumatotization may

be disturbed or be entirely inhibited. Should the inhibition take
place at an early stage there will only be formed a tympanum,
atticus and antrum. Should inhibition take place a t a later stage
a corresponding distribution will then be obtained - infantile
type. I n the case of less severe changes there will be a disturbance
of the different stages of pneumatotization resulting in irregula-
rities in the form and size of the cells as also in the density of the
surrounding bone. Wittmaack has submitted different types of
pneumatotization and from these he has considered himself justified
Artieulatio incudomalleolaris
\
Corpus incudis
Capituliun mallei
CI
Colliim mallei

Proc. ant. (Fc, l i i )

Cru3 longum ----

-- Manubrium mallei
Processus lenticolaris %x

Basis stapedis

Fig. Y. Left malleus, incus and stapes. from medial.

in drawing conclusions as to the condition of the mucous membrane.

Thus is the pneumatotization of the temporale bone found to be
subjected to great variations, not only with regard to its extent
- form total inhibition to complete pervasion of cells - but also
regarding the shape and size of the cells and the density of sur-
rounding bone.
The sulcus sigmoideus is an osseous groove forming the bony
wall of the sinus sigmoideus. It runs from the upper bend of the
sinus downwards and inwards on the inner side of the pars mastoidea
close to the posterior surface of the pyramid and continues below
on the occipital bone where it bends forwards towards the foramen
jugulare and fossa jugularis into which it passes with a sharp
 19

kink. The bony sulcus has an anterior and a posterior edge, of

which the former is generally most marked. The sulcus shows
considerable variations in depth and its anterior wall may cut
relatively deeply into the pyramid, its anterior border then bending
backwards in a lip-shaped manner. At the upper bend or at
the sino-dural angle this border sometimes projects as a lamina,
indeed it may even bridge the groove. Its relation to the mastoid
antrum and the cellular system has been mentioned in the aforesaid.
Its situation shows from practical point of view important variations.
It may thus be situated far laterally, indeed, the lateral bony wall
may even be defective. The sinus sigmoideus has then a super-
ficial position, so-called lateral position of the sinus. Furthermore,
it may be displaced forwards in relation to the posterior auditory
wall. This distance generally measures about 15 mm., but on
antero-position of the sinus it may be lying close to the posterior
auditory wall. This may be of great practical importance as an
operative search for the antrum is rendered more difficult, a diffi-
culty which is aggravated still more if the middle fossa of the skull
simultaneously extends deep down. Dilatations of the sinus may
also occur causing then topographical variations. The emissarium
mastoideum also shows variations not only in depth but also in
respect if its orifice into the sinus. It is not rarely double. The
sinus petro-squamosus is an atypical venous channel running from
the upper bend of the sinus to the sinus cavernosus through the
floor of the middle fossa of the skull. The lateral part of the sinus
petrosus superior may cut deeply into the upper pyramidal border
before it passes over into the sinus sigmoideus.
It may seem, perhaps, that the author has entered into unne-
cessarily many details in dealing with the anatomy of the temporal
bone. To rightly understand the roentgen anatomy of the temporal
bone, however, a sound knowledge of its anatomy is just as im-
portant for the radiologist as for the surgeon when operating upon
it. A further careful study of anatomical specimens is therefore
recommended to enlarge one’s knowledge of size proportions and
topography.